Cessna 152 accident near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, October 28, 2004
On October 28, 2004 at about 2:20 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N5290B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Teresa, New Mexico (Dona Ana County At Santa Teres airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the student pilot' failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot's failure to abort the takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 28, 2004 · about 2:20 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Teresa, New Mexico · Dona Ana County At Santa Teres · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N5290B · no longer on the register · serial 15283828
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the student pilot, he had performed two touch and go landings. During the ground roll, the pilot advanced the throttle forward to perform another takeoff. The pilot reported that the airplane "veered sharply to the left" and departed the runway. He stated that he was not able to "reduce the power" because it was bumpy. The nose wheel struck an outcropping of sagebrush, separating the nose gear. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over, causing substantial damage.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 57 hours in all; 56 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,386.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 15, 2004; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5T6 Santa Teresa NM at 1:45 pm
- Destination: 5T6 Santa Teresa NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 8,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 pm from ELP, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.